The Whipped Kitchen Features: "Spache The Spatula"

  As a newbie blogger, I frequent sites that inspires me on a given day. But most, because I do bake, it would always concerns "Food". Recently, I got a chance to visit this wonderful blog of Rachel . Reading it gives me the high. I never been so ecstatic to hit our kitchen and bake or cook. Baking aside from cooking is a passion, Though as I said, I haven't taken any formal classroom studies yet. So far, my learning set up would be the rest of the You Tube sensations and my Google. Anyways, first thing that I look for when I visit a site is if it's easy to do. Really a golden rule for a newbie like me. Second, if the ingredients are available locally. Sometimes, well most I give this an exemption especially if I like the recipe. I just look for a readily alternative that I could find through Goggle's suggestion. Those I bear in mind and Rachel really hits those spot. I just happend to discover her blog upon searching  recipes to try for a bazaar. Then as what they say "...the rest is history".

From the Whipped Kitchen: The Mango Graham Cookies Recipe

Lately we've been experiencing the sudden raise in temperature. Just means to say that Summer is officially kickin in. Yay or Nay?! A lot different in compared to last year, the prelude month to summer stays a bit colder that of now. Better get those summer gears out from your closets because it'll be coming I think earlier.
So, like one of my dreams of having a Coffee Shop, I also dream
of releasing new flavors for my creations in every event of the year like, Summer. *wink*
My inspiration I got from what my mom brought yesterday, which is an ice cream stick. Yes, a famous ice cream brand released a Mango Graham flavor on their list. But what Mango has got to do with the weather? You see, we are very fond of making shakes and the likes, anything that has a big participation of shaved ice. And the most popular of all is, right. Mangoes. Proud to say that the Philippine Mangoes are the best in the world. In short, I made a bold imitation of the famous Mango Graham in my cookies. Hope you enjoy my cookies as much as I do and lets celebrate Summer!

Mango Graham Cookies

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cup All Purpose Flour
• 6 pc Graham Crackers
• 1 tsp Baking soda
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup Dried Mangoes diced
• 8 oz Unsalted Butter
• 1/8 cup Cream Cheese
• 2 pc Eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla

Cooking Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Crush the graham crackers in a Ziploc bag until almost powdered but leave a few chunks.
3. In a medium bowl, combine all the dry ingredients ( graham, flour, baking soda) set aside.
4. In another bowl, cream together the butter, sugar and cream cheese for a few minutes. Add eggs one at a time and vanilla. Mix until you have a glossy texture.
5. Add in the flour mixture and the dried mangoes. Mix until well combined.
6. Using a standard size cookie scoop, drop the dough unto the cookie sheets, at least 2 inches apart. For extra chewiness, you may refrigerate the dough for 30 minutes before baking.
7. Bake for 12 minutes. Allow to cool in the cookie sheets for 5 minutes before transferring to a cookie rack.
8. Makes 18 cookies

To Love and Behold, My story untold

 Everybody has that what we call "one true love..." or "my priced possession.." It may be a person, a pet, a thing or a DREAM. For me, it's the latter. 

I never really thought that I would make cooking a profession. Well not that I'm already a professional chef on that matter. I took up CA or Culinary Arts Course only by accident. Though I really do love to cook but only for the love of my family. Fond of watching TLC and Food Network. Idolizing Giada de Laurentiis and Anthony Bourdain. 

So there. I wore my toque and fulfill my dreams.

But.. I haven't completed my study yet. I still have one course left and that is Baking. Just because I have personal fears to tackle that I already left that dream be a dream. 

I still continued to cook. Be it with an occasion or just a simple day, my meal would be pleasant. It may came from a you tube cooking sensation, a blog post from which I subscribed or from a recipe book that I tweaked because of the availability of a foreign ingredient. But as what I put it, my "inner goddess" whom I call nudges me to do baking. So maybe i'm fearless, even though i don't have my 101's on how to i started selling cupcakes.

For starters, i made this Laura Vitale Chocolate Crumb Cake.

Chocolate Crumb Cake by Laura Vitale

Chocolate Crumb Cake my version

Please don't judge. I know there is a huge difference but trust me it's still Chocolate. *smiley inserted*

Being not educated with the basics, i readily just relied on my instincts. I know... I know. It's a No! No! but my passion is really kicking hard. Yes, i had my burnt ones, the under cooked, the one that didn't rise, and the laughing-pill-kind-of-cupcake because of too much sugar.

But what I learned about this ( aside from my undying passion) is that you have to be patient.

As you looked at that cupcake waiting to rise, you see your hardships. In getting the right measurement, choosing the less expensive ingredient to conversion. And when you finally see the dome forming in you feel success!  I may sound shallow but first timers would attest to this.

 And so my baking journey continues. I might still continue my baking course because it's a Must! I joined my brother's company bazaar. I had some promising offers but as of now I still want to give time to my Love. You see my dream is something to Behold. A very impressive dream from a girl who only has the passion to hold on to.